KUALA LUMPUR — Badminton Ireland is about to lose their seasoned coach, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin.
However, they have appointed another former Malaysian international, Yeoh Seng Zoe, to take over the senior singles program that Iskandar has been managing since 2023.
Seng Zoe, 27, went to Dublin with Iskandar right before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to act as a sparring partner for the Irish national singles team.
After that, Iskandar became the head coach of the senior team, while Seng Zoe continued in his sparring position.
It wasn’t until later in 2023 that he was assigned to oversee the junior program.
Speaking to Scoop when contacted, the Penang-born Seng Zoe said he would do everything he could to build on the foundations laid by Iskandar, which included guiding two Irish players, Nhat Nguyen and Rachel Darragh, to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I want to thank Badminton Ireland for giving me the chance to prove myself. I also want to thank my senior, Iskandar, for showing me the ropes during this time and for looking after me so well.
“I wish him all the best with BAM,” said Seng Zoe, who shares the same long-term ambition as Iskandar—to see Irish shuttlers qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“For now, I will do my best and see how things go. If everything goes well, my ultimate target is to see one men’s singles player and one women’s singles player qualify for the 2028 LA Games.
“But before that, I hope we can secure some podium finishes on the World Tour,” he added.
When asked why Malaysian coaches are in such high demand in Europe, Seng Zoe said that the difference between Asian and European coaching methods is that Asians focus more on long endurance and drills, while Europeans place greater emphasis on high intensity—shorter sessions but with more speed and power.
“For me and Iskandar, we tried to combine the two schools of thought. I believe we managed quite well.”
Notably, there is another Malaysian in Dublin—former Nusa Mahsuri player Muhammad Izzuddin Shamsulmuzli—who is expected to step in to support the Irish junior programme.
Yesterday, BAM confirmed that former Malaysia Masters runner-up Iskandar will return to the national coaching set-up as head coach of the women’s singles squad.
He will replace Indonesian Jeffer Rosobin, who departed in February. – July 1, 2025